There are two main types of hypertension or high blood pressure.

• Primary or essential hypertension
  No specific cause for this has been proven.
• Secondary hypertension
  This happens when high blood pressure results as a consequence of an illness or condition.

Additionally, other types of hypertension include:

• Malignant hypertension occurs when the blood pressure shoots up suddenly and goes back to being normal once treated.
• Isolated systolic hypertension has no particular cause that has been diagnosed but it is generally found as people age. Many with a poor diet also have this type of blood pressure.
• White coat hypertension is the condition where a person’s blood pressure shoots up while at the doctor’s clinic or hospital and goes back to normal in other settings. Stress or fear is believed to cause this.
• Resistant hypertension happens when medication does not help the reduction of blood pressure.

Causes of hypertension

• Aging
  As we grow older, blood vessels naturally harden, losing their elasticity resulting in hypertension.
• Obesity
  Weight gain increases the heart rate and causes the arteries to become thicker and stiff, reducing the ability of the blood vessels to circulate the blood all over the body. This results in hypertension.
• Diabetes
  Diabetes increases the amount of fluid present in our body and also reduces the elasticity of the blood vessels. Alteration in the way insulin is produced also directly increases blood pressure.
• Kidney diseases
  Kidney diseases cause the arteries that carry the blood to thicken. When enough blood does not reach the kidneys, it is filled with other fluids, increasing blood pressure.
• Lifestyle
  Diets rich in sodium and fats, sedentary lifestyle, stress, indulgence in alcohol, and too much smoking also increases blood pressure.
• Heredity
  People whose parents or very close blood relatives have blood pressure can also inherit this condition.

Risk factors of hypertension

• Obesity
  People with high BMI are at a big risk for hypertension.
• Diet high in sodium
  Sodium retains fluids and constricts the arteries, resulting in high blood pressure. People who consume high quantities of processed, canned foods, fast food, and unsaturated foods are all at high risk for increased blood pressure.
• Diet low in potassium
  Potassium relaxes the muscle cells in the arteries and also balances the sodium levels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
• Stressful environments
  Stressful environments at home or work increase blood pressure drastically. This could be a temporary condition but stress is a risk factor for hypertension
• Non–steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  Long term usage of medication like Ibuprofen or Advil® can worsen blood pressure or result in high blood pressure in those who do not have it. Medication used to treat cold not only constrict the arteries in the nose but also in the heart, resulting in blood pressure
• Physically inactive lifestyle
  Physical activity relaxes the arteries and reduces blood pressure.
• Alcohol
  Alcohol activates the adrenergic nervous system, causing constriction of blood vessels and increases blood pressure.